Internal-combustion engine.



B. KRAMER. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE. APPLICATION IIL ED FEB. 4,1914.

1,122,009 Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

Witnesses:

lm/eptov:

7fi Bern ewd Kramer,

His .flttovne yr BEENHARD KRAMER, OF CHARLOTTENBURG, GERMANY, ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPC-RATION 61 NE 7.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENG-11 1f].

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Application filed February 4, 1914' Serial 1%. 51%,538

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Bnunrrnnn KRAMER, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Charlottenburg, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is specification.

My invention relates to internal combustlOn engines which have a valve for admitting fluid under pressure to a cylinder-tor starting the engine, which valve is yieldingly held on its seat so as to also act as a safety valve in case of excessive pressures. Such a valve may be termed a combined startin and safety valve and the object of the present invention is to provide in connection with such a valve an improved arrangement of parts for controlling and cooperating with the same in the performance of its various functions.

The various features of novelty of my invention will be pointed out in the course of: the following specification Whereinl have described what 1 non believe to be the best embodiment thereof, such embodiment being illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

in the drawing the figure is a somewhat diagrammatic sectional view illustrating my invention.

in carrying out my invention 1 provide a swing seated starting valve for controllingthe passa of fluid to the engine cylinder and connected to the-stem thereof is the piston of a motor. This piston is actuatmgl a ainst the pressure of a spring to open the valve for starting the engine, by the starting fluid, a common conduit being provided for conveying the air to both the ci'lindcr of the motor and to the region surrounding the admission valve. Arranged in the conduit and controllingthe passage of starting fluid therethrough-is balanced controlling valve suitabl} biased to its closed position as by a spring, and adapted to he opened lay-a cam driven from the engine shaft; Operating in connection with th'e controlling valve is asecond valve controlling an escape or pressure relieving passage through which the starting fluid conrluit may be connected from apoint between the controlling valve and the starting valve to atmospher or other region of lower pressure. This second valve is likewise con- TY'Olltflfl'OlD the engine shaft and is so arranged that it is alwavs closed prior to the mains connec opening of: the centre not open until closed. Bv this starting of the conduit between the starting valvto the starting fluid s of lower pressure, as permitting the use J:

the region oi those starting valve. This escap issagze is relai more "Fully hereinatter. but ow iarati elv a large caoacitv o; t; .rrouuding the starting valve 9 d duit it will ordinarilv care of and relie e all p In order to 'orovide a ail pressure and one which would be safel taken care of bv the es mas age, I orovide a h gh pressure si valve. in the form ill stia is shown as being seated i the motor which operates the starting valve and is nretcrablv pro-Li .tl its scat bv the same spring which holds the star ring valve seated. By this means a single s rine; new forms both functions and a sinple and compact structure results.

Referring now to the drawing bv referion ence characters for a more detailed description of mv invention, 1 have shown an internal combustion engine ht ring oppositely moving pistons 1 and 2 working in cvlindor Mv invention is not. however, limited to this tvoe of engine. Communicating with the cvlinder 3 is an opening or port 4 having a seat for the outwardlv opening starting and re ief valve 5. The valve casing, is formed preferably in two parts, the part 6 this valve toe oiston 0t being cast integral with the cylinder and .formed cap 7. Formed onthe stem of the valve are guide members 8 and piston 9, which piston cooperates with the valve casing to form a motor for positively opening the valve 5.- The travel of the piston 9, and hence that of the valve 5, is limited by-a stop 10 which is conveniently in the form of an annular projection formed inside the valve casing. The valve 5 is held on its 'seat by the spring 11 arranged between the end of the cap 7 and the piston 9.

Communicating with the casing of the valve 5 is the conduit 12 which serves to supply the starting fluid to both the motor cylinder and to the region around the starting valve. I have shown the motor cylinder and the region around the starting valve as being in substance a single chamber. This is preferable as it permits of a simple compact structure and one having but a single .conduit connection. Arranged in this conduit12 is a balanced controlling valve 13 biased to the closed position as by spring 14, and a'hand-operated shut-off valve 13. The stem 15 of a valve 13 has a longitudinally extending passage 16' therein communicating at the upper end with the conduit 12 by way of cross passage 17 and atthe lower end with, the cylinder 18 byway of cross passage 19. The end of the stem 15 is formed into a cone-shaped valve 15 which engages the valve seat 20 carried by the piston 21. Extending longitudinally of the piston 21 is a passage 22 opening at one end into the valve seat 20 and at the other end to the atmosphere, or other region of lower pressure. by way of openings 23. The piston 21 carries a stem 24, the end-of which is in engagement with the lever 25. This lever 25 carries a rol1er26 cooperating with a crown cam 27 driven from the shaft 28.- This latter'may be any suitable shaft suitably driven by the engine. Thev lever 25 is pivoted on an eccentric 29 and as shown in full lines in the drawing normally rests against abutment 30. .By rotating the eccentric 29 by a suitable handle. the lever 25 can be made to fulcrum on the abutment 30 and be thus moved to the dotted lineposition'and out of operative relation to the cam 27.

With the parts as shown in the drawing, it will be noted that the conduit 12 is conn'ected to the atmosphere bv way of passages 1'Z, 16, 19, cylinder 18, passage 22 and openings .23. I term this my pressure relieving passage and find that in general it is sufficient for relieving the pressures which occur in conduit. 12 and the valve casing 6, due either to the starting fluid when starting the engine ,or to the pressure occurring when alve opens owing to excessive cylinder pressure. In order to take care. of very high pressure. however, Ill-10h may occasionally cone-shaped valve 15 on. stem 15.

occur,I providea high pressure supplementary by-pass or relief .valve which opens to v connect the region around the starting valve directly to atmosphere. This valve is preferablyseatedon the piston 9, as shown at 31, and its face is subjected to the pressure 1n the valve casing 6 by way of the openings By'thisarrangementI utilize the spring.

11 which holds valve 5 on its seat for also holding the valve 31 on its seat, although I am not'necessarily limited to such arrangement. Such an arrangement, however, has I the advantageous already pointed out.

The operation is as follows: Assuming the parts to be in the position as shown in the drawing in-full lines, the valve 13 being closed, the engine if not in starting posi-" tion will be cranked over to a position where the crown cam 27 raises lever arm 25. This first serves to raise stem 24 and piston 22 and cause the valve seat 20 to engage the Conduit 12 is now shut off from connection with atmospheric' openings 23 but still connects with cylinder space 18. movement, the valve 13 is unseated, the roller 26 now resting substantially at the highest point of cam 27. The hand valve 13 now being opened, starting fluid passes through controlling valve 13, and conduit 12 to the casing of the starting and relief valve 5. The relative'relation of the surface of valve 5 and the strength of spring ll to the surface of piston 9 is such as .to, cause the piston to be moved by the starting fluid to Upon furtherpressure therein. As the engine turns over,

cam 27 will be moved from.under roller 26. Spring 14 will quickly force valve 13 on to its seat and the pressure in cylinder 18-will force piston 21 downward thereby forcing arm 25 to follow quickly the contour of the cam and removing valve seat 20 from the cone-shaped valve 15 on stem '15. This connects conduit 12 by way of the pressure'relief passage to a region of lower pressure as already explained, permitting the pressurein the valve casing 6 to escape and the spring 11 to quickly reseat valve 5. As the. pistons 1 and 2 again reach the end of their inward stroke the cam 27 will again operate the arms 25 to cause the-starting cycle as already explained to be repeated, as will be readily understood. The spring 11 is of such a strength as compared to the surface of the supplementary relief valve 31 exposed to the starting fluid pressure as not to permit .of the unseating of the same,

although it permits of the movement of pisa. dangerously high pressure occurs in the engine'cylinder, the valve 5 will function as 1 a relief valve, opening against the action of spring 11, which spring will quickly resent the valve as soon the excessive pressure is relieved. In view of the fact that the chamber between the valve 5 and piston 9 and the conduit 12 have quite some capacity, quite a large volume of high pressure gas can be taken care of by the relief passage. In case, however,- the pressure is excessive, the supplemental relief valve 31 will open providing a direct connection to atmosphere.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent thebest embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the appa ratus shown is only illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,

1. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder, a working piston, a starting valve, a conduit for conveying starting fluid to the valve, means whereby said valve is controlled by the starting fluid, a normally closed controlling valve in said conduit; a pressure relieving passage communicating with the conduit at a point between the starting valve and the controlling valve, a normally open valve controlling said passage, and automatic nreansior successively operating said controlling valve and last named valve to start the engine.

2. In an *internal combustion engine, the mbination of a cylinder, a Working piston, 21 starting valve, a conduit for co iveying starting fluid to the valve, means wherebysaid valve is controlled by the starting fluid,

a normally closed controlling valve in said conduit, a pressure relieving passage communicating with the conduit at a point between the starting valve and the controlling valve, a normally. open valve controlling said passage, and means for operating said controlling valve and said last named valve, said means arranged to' close the last named valve prior to the opening of the controlling valve.

3. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder, a working piston, a starting valve, a piston connected to the valve, a cylinder in which said second named piston works, a conduit for conveying starting fluid to the last named cylinder and to the region around said valve, a normally closed controlling valve in the conduit. a

pressure relieving passage communicating with tie conduit at a point between starting valve and the cont-'rolling'valve, and

a normally open valve controlling said passage.

f-l. In an internal combustion engine combination of a cylinder, 'a wor tin a starting valve, a piston connected t valve, a cylinder in which said second named piston works, a conduit for conveying start- 7s ing fluid to the last named cylinder and to the region around said valve, a norr. any closed controlling valve in the condiiit, a pressure relieving with the conduit at a point bet'u ing valve and the cor mally open valve controlling and means for valve and said 1 arranged "to close the last named i to the opening of the control 'ng valve.

5. In an internal combustion engire, combined starting and reiier valve, co ing a casing, a valve therei a piston casing for opening the val normally holding the conduit for conveying st valve casing, a eontrollin duit, a pressure reliei pa eating with the conduit at r the valves, a valve for such pas means for controlling the two la valves.

6. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of cylinder, a working piston, a starting valve, a casing therefor, a conduit leading to the casing, and automatic for alternately connecting the conduit to the supply of starting fluid and to a region of lower pressure to start the engine.

7. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of cylinder, a working piston, a starting valve, a casing therefor, a conduit leading'to the casing, means for alternately connecting the conduit to the supply of starting fluid and to a region of lower pressure, and means in said casing controlled by the starting iiuid for opening the starting valve.

8. In a combined admission and relief valve mechanism, a valve, a casing therefor, a piston for operating the valve, a valve seat carried by the piston, a valve seated thereon, and resilient means for holding said valves on their seats.

' 9. In a combined admission and relief valve mechanism, a valve, a casing therefor, a piston in the casing connected to the valve for operating it, a valve seat carried by the piston, a valve seated thereon, and single spring bearing on the second named valve for holding both valves seated.

' 10. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder, a working piston,

a starting valve, a casing therefor, a piston.

ear 1 pas es, operating said contro alveprior in the casing connected to the valve for operating it,.aeconduit ,leadingto the casing for conveying starting fluid thereto, a pres sure relieving passage for connecting the conduit to a region of lower pressure, and

a supplemental relief valve. associated with the valve casing.

f 11. In an internalcombustion engine,,the combination of a-cylinder, a working ,piston, a starting valve, a conduit for conveying starting fluid to the valve, means whereby said-valve is controlled by the starting fluid, a normally closed controlling valve m said-conduit, astem for said valve, a'cylinder into \Vll'lCll said stem extends, said stem hav ng a passage-therein connecting at one end with said conduitpand at theother end.

w-ith;the second named cylinder, a piston in the second named cylinder, a valve operated by'such piston :for controlling the passage of fluid from such cylinden to a region of lower pressure, and means controlled by the engine for moving the lastinamed-piston to first close the last named valveand then openingthe controlling valve.

- 12; In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder, at working piston, a'starti'ng valve, a casing therefor, a

conduit leading to the casing,means for alternately connecting the conduit to the supply of starting fluid and to a region of.-

lower pressure, means in said casing controlled by the starting fluid for opening the starting 'valve, and a-supplemental relief valve associated with the valve casing,

13. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder, a working piston, a starting valve, a piston connected to the valve, a cylinder. in which said second named piston works, a conduit for-conveying starting fluid tothe last namedcylinder and to the region around said valve, a normally closed controlling valve in the conduit, a pressure relieving passage communicatingvvith the conduitat a point between the starting valve and the controlling valve.

a normally open valve controlling said passage, and a supplemental relief valve car-, rled by the second named p ston.

' 14. 'In a, combined admission and relief \"alve mechanism, a valve, :1 casingjthereiahy a piston for operating the valve,-a valve seat carried by the piston, a valve seated thereon, resilient means for holding saidvalves on their seats, a conduit connected to the casing, andengine controlled means -for alternately connecting the conduit to the supply of startingfiuidjand to a reg on ofwer pressures;- V 15. The, combination with. an internal combustion engine having a cylinder, and

working piston ofa combined startingwand relief valve therefor 'con1pr1sing.:a-:valve casing, an outwardly opening valve therein ,Which is exposed to. cylinder pressure, fluid actuated means, f0r opening said valve to admit starting-fluid to the cylinder, a con-I duit through which starting fluid is con veyed to the fluidac-tuated means, a controlling valve therein, va passage connecting the interior of the valve casing to a region of lower pressure, a normally open valve. controllingthe passage, and'operating mechanism for the last named valves which operates to close the normally open valve and open the controlling valve 4 16. The combination with. an internal combustion engine'havinga cylind er'and working piston of-a combined starting and relief valve therefor comprising a valve casing, an outwardly opening valve therein which is exposed to cylinder pressure. fluid actuated means for opening said valve to admit starting fluid to the cylinder, a conduit through which starting fluid is conveyed to the fluid actuated means and the valve casing, a controlling valve therein. a passage connecting the interior of the valve casing to a region of lower pressure, a normally open valve controlling the passage,

and operating mechanism for thelast. 

